Massage Device

Abstract

A massage device includes spiked massage balls that rotate independently of each other around a shaft that is supported by a mount. The balls rotate on either side of a central bracket. A longitudinally extending body part is massaged by movement thereof through a valley between the massage balls. This valley is accessible by the longitudinally extending body part over an angle that exceeds 180°.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a massage device, said massage device comprising first and second massage balls, each of which comprises spikes that protrude from a surface thereof, a mount that comprises a left-hand outer bracket, a right-hand outer bracket, and a central bracket that is disposed between said left-hand outer bracket and said right-hand outer bracket, each of said brackets having a base, a first concave section, a second concave section, and a convex section, wherein said base comprises first and second base-ends and a base axis that extends therebetween, and a rotational shaft that extends through said convex sections of said brackets and through through-holes of said first and second massage balls, said rotational shaft being supported by said mount, wherein said first massage ball is disposed to rotate around said rotational shaft between said left-hand outer bracket and said central bracket, wherein said second massage ball is disposed to rotate around said rotational shaft between said right-hand outer bracket and said central bracket, wherein said massage balls rotate independently of each other around said rotational shaft, wherein first and second rays that extend from said rotational shaft to said first and second base ends of said central bracket, respectively define first and second angular ranges that are explementary to each other, said first angular range being greater than said second angular range, and wherein said first and second massage balls define a valley at said central bracket for accommodating a longitudinally extending body part that is to be massaged by movement thereof through said valley between said massage balls while said body part is within said first angular range, whereby said valley that is between said first and second massage balls is accessible by said longitudinally extending body part over an angle that exceeds 180°.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first angular range is 270° and said second angular range is 90°.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first angular range is between 210° and 270° and said second angular range is between 150° and 90°.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second massage balls are hollow.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a peripheral frame, wherein said rotational shaft is disposed above said frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rotational shaft is supported centrally.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mount is manufactured from connected boards.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mount securely positions said rotational shaft on a surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a holder that holds said mount above a floor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising two pairs of feet that support said massage device on a surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising cross members that are connected to said outer brackets by threaded joints.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said massage balls is freely accessible over an angular range of greater than 180°.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second massage balls are resilient.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising third and fourth massage balls of a size that differs from that of said first and second massage balls, wherein said first and second massage balls are removable and replaceable by said third and fourth massage balls.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising first and second massage bodies of a shape that differs from that of said first and second massage balls, wherein said first and second massage balls are removable and replaceable by said first and second massage bodies.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising first and second massage bodies having a grooved surface, wherein said first and second massage balls are removable and replaceable by said first and second massage bodies.

17. A method comprising massaging a longitudinally extending body part, said method comprising causing said body part to move through an angular range into a valley that is formed between first and second massage balls that rotate independently of each other around a rotational shaft that is supported by a mount having a bracket that has first and second base ends, wherein each of said massage balls comprises spikes protruding from a surface thereof, said angular range being defined by first and second rays that extend from said shaft to each of said first and second base ends, said angular range being greater than 180°.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective overall view of a massage device according to the invention,

[0039] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same massage device,

[0040] FIG. 3 is a side view of the massage device, and

[0041] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a side view of the central support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a massage device 10 that comprises two massage bodies, namely a first massage ball 12 and a second massage ball 14. The massage balls 12 and 14 are arranged on a mount 16. This mount 16 supports a rotational shaft 18.

[0043] The mount 16 comprises a left-hand outer bracket 20, a central bracket 22, and a right-hand outer bracket 24. These three brackets each comprise through-holes for the rotational shaft 18.

[0044] The brackets are connected by the rotational shaft. In addition, the brackets are connected by two cross members 26a, 26b, of which the front cross member is visible in FIG. 1. The cross members 26a, 26b can expediently be connected to the outer brackets by threaded joints 28. Like the brackets, the cross members 26a, 26b can be cut out of a board material. This allows for a construction that is particularly simple but still very stable.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the massage device 10 shown in FIG. 1. The first massage body 12 is arranged on the left, and the second massage body 14 is arranged on the right. This view clearly shows the cross members 26a, 26b guided in parallel. As a result of having been guided through the central bracket 22, the rotational shaft 18 is supported centrally. This view also clearly shows that the mount 16 extends around the periphery by 360 degrees. The lateral portions are formed by the outer brackets 20, 24. The cross members 26 are arranged therebetween.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a side view along the plane III-III. It is therefore a plan view of the left-hand outer bracket 20. It shows how the outer bracket 20 receives the rotational shaft 18. A bore is provided for this purpose. Alternatively, a blind hole or similar recess would also be suitable. The outer bracket 20 also limits the lateral play that the first massage body 12 has on the rotational shaft 18. In order to limit this play, additional apparatuses can be provided (rings, ball bearings, or the like), but this is not required. In this respect, too, the mount 16 makes it possible to support the massage bodies in both a simple and expedient manner.

[0047] The cross members can be rigidly connected to the outer bracket 20 by four bores and fitting threaded joints 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d.

[0048] In this case, the outer brackets 20, 24 also assume the function of projecting support elements, and therefore these are not provided as separate components. The lower part of the outer brackets 20, 24 comprises vertical edges and is part of the peripheral mount, and the adjoining upper part is substantially triangular and acts as a support element for the rotational shaft 18.

[0049] This side view also shows how the mount 16 can be dimensioned in an expedient manner. The rotational shaft 18 is attached above a supporting surface at a height “a.” This height is somewhat greater than the radius “r” of the massage balls. The mount 16 overall extends beyond the height of the rotational shaft, and namely projects beyond the rotational shaft 18 by the height “b.” This height “b” is, however, intended to be small compared with the radius “r.”

[0050] FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the axis IV-IV from FIG. 2. The central bracket 22 comprises a bore for the rotational shaft 18, such that said shaft can be supported centrally without a complex construction. Two cut-outs, through which the cross members 26a and 26b are guided, are provided in the bottom of the central bracket 22. It would also be possible to make the cross members shorter, such that, in each case, one or two cross members connect the left-hand outer bracket to the central bracket and further cross members connect the right-hand outer bracket to the central bracket. It has, however, proven successful to guide the cross members through the central bracket, because this means that a lower number of cross members is required and the left-hand outer bracket 20 can be connected directly to the right-hand outer bracket 24.

[0051] Overall, it can be seen how a stable and universally applicable massage device can be manufactured in a simple and expedient manner.